The Modern Ag Alliance, led by Bayer, was launched earlier this year to advocate for farmers’ access to safe and effective pesticides. The coalition of over 85 agricultural groups supports science-based regulation and labeling of crop protection tools that are essential for food production and sustainability and their rallying cry is “Control Weeds Not Farming.” Bayer sponsored a panel at …
USDA Forecasting Record Corn and Soybean Yields
The latest Crop Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is forecasting record corn and soybean yields this year, with higher total production for soybeans and slightly lower for corn. Corn production is expected to be down 1% from last year at 15.1 billion bushels while soybean production is forecast to be 10% higher than 2023 at a …
BioLumic Partners with Seed Companies for New Traits
BioLumic is partnering with Beck’s Hybrids, Peterson Corn Genetics, Peterson Farms Seed, Breeder Direct and other seed companies to use BioLumic’s Genetic Expression Trait™ light-activated technology on a wide range of inbred and hybrid corn lines aiming to enhance their productivity. BioLumic is the world’s only company treating seeds with light to activate genetic expression for new crop traits which …
Farm Financial Conditions are Rough
The House Agriculture Committee convened a hearing Tuesday to hear from farmers and rural lenders about the state of financial conditions in farm country. Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) painted a depressing picture in his opening remarks. “Declining prices and cash receipts, escalating natural disasters, and increasing input costs have created a perfect storm that will compromise the foundation of …
USDA Estimates Corn Acres Down 3%, Soybeans Up 3%
The planted acres report out Friday from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates 91.5 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2024, down 3% from last year, with soybean acres estimated at 86.1 million acres, up 3% from last year. The estimate for all cotton planted area for 2024 is 11.7 million acres, 14% above 2023. …
Farmers, Car Dealers and Oil Companies Sue Over EV Push
An unlikely coalition of farmers, car dealers, and the oil industry have joined together to push back against the push for mandated electric vehicles. The National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation and six auto dealers representing 16 brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country joined the American Petroleum Institute today in filing …
Syngenta Fungicides Can Help Manage Mycotoxins
With ear rots becoming more common and stealing more corn yield, Syngenta has some recommendations for managing mycotoxins and maximizing silage return on investment. Two mycotoxin-causing threats are Fusarium ear rot and Gibberella ear rot and both caused significant yield losses in 2023, an estimated 46.9 million bushels and 49.4 million bushels, respectively. The mycotoxins caused by each disease, Fumonison …
Ethanol Report on 40B SAF Tax Credit and Beyond
The 40B tax credit guidance and modified GREET model released April 30 by U.S. Treasury lays the groundwork for U.S. ethanol producers and farmers to participate in the emerging market for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). But since 40B expires at the end of this year, all the attention will now turn to implementing the 45Z credit to start next year, …
Vilsack Explains SAF Tax Credit for Farm Broadcasters
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spent the majority of his time meeting with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Tuesday talking about the 40B sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit guidance and modified GREET model released that day by the Biden Administration. “You need to understand this because you’re the folks who have to explain that it’s a point …
Farmer Consultant Digs Into SAF Tax Credit Guidance
Iowa farmer and consultant Mitchell Hora, Continuum Ag, spent some time Wednesday morning breaking down the 40B sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit guidance released this week for farmers hoping to be eligible. To qualify under the guidance, corn farmers have to do cover crop, no-till, and enhanced efficiency fertilizer, while soybean farmers are required to cover crop and no-till. …